Bridgestone The Official Tire Of The PGA TOUR Supports The First Tee of AkronDriving to Benefit First Tee exhibit travels to 7 PGA TOUR Events
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 16, 2008) – Calling all golfers! Improve your game while helping Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) drive for The First Tee of Akron. Beginning with this week's AT&T Classic, BFNT will host the "Driving to Benefit First Tee" experience at seven PGA TOUR events where spectators have the chance to see how far they can drive a golf ball. The drives will be converted into miles, and for every mile driven, BFNT will donate $25 to The First Tee of Akron.
“As part of being the Official Tire of the PGA TOUR, we are always looking for opportunities to give back to the communities where we live and work. This is also a fun way for spectators to get involved while attending PGA TOUR events,” says Phil Pacsi, Vice President of Consumer Tire Marketing BFNT. “And better yet, for spectators to get involved for a great cause.”
In addition to the “Driving to Benefit First Tee” experience, BFNT will also have the Bridgestone Golf Ball Fitting Challenge as well as displays featuring Bridgestone SUV/Light truck, sedan and performance tires. While fans are waiting for their turn to find out which ball is best for their golf game or how far they can drive the ball, they can learn which Bridgestone tire is best for their vehicle by playing one of four miniature golf holes in the exhibit. Brand ambassadors will also be on-site to distribute literature and answer fans’ questions.
“The First Tee of Akron is so thankful to Bridgestone Firestone,” says Steve Parker, Executive Director, The First Tee of Akron. “The funds raised by Bridgestone Firestone will help support our mission and offer educational programs for our young members.”
The First Tee of Akron provides young people the opportunity to grow not only in the game of golf, but also as productive members of society. Its mission is “to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life enhancing values through the game of golf.” Participants enter into exploration of themselves and others as well as the meaning of such core values as responsibility, integrity, judgment, and sportsmanship and their relation to both golf and life.
“We take pride in our involvement with such a great organization,” says Christine Karbowiak, Vice President of Community and Corporate Relations. “We have a special relationship with the City of Akron, with more than 1,000 teammates and our research and technology centers located there. We’ve demonstrated our support of the city, its people and our team members by giving back to the community in many different ways. One endeavor of which we’re especially proud is our long relationship with The First Tee of Akron.”
The BFNT “Driving to Benefit First Tee” exhibit will be at the following tournaments:
- AT&T Classic- May 12-18 in Duluth, Ga.
- Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial- May 18-25 in Ft. Worth, Texas
- Stanford St. Jude Championship- June 2-8 in Memphis, Tenn.
- John Deere Classic- July 7-13 in Silvis, Ill.
- U.S. Bank Championship July 14-20 in Milwaukee, Wis.
- World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational- July 28- August 3 in Akron, Ohio
- Wyndham Championship- August 8-14 in Greensboro, N.C.
Following the final on-site presence of the “Driving to Benefit First Tee” exhibit at the Wyndham Championship, Bridgestone Firestone will present The First Tee of Akron with a check representing $25 for every mile driven at the selected events.
About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America. In addition, through its industry-leading Bandag brand, BFNT develops, manufactures, markets and sells retreading materials and equipment.
About The First Tee of Akron:
The mission of The First Tee is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. In sustaining this mission, The First Tee of Akron seeks to impart the knowledge and tools necessary for young people to grow, develop and in turn give back as productive members of the community. The First Tee of Akron seeks to support, educate and advocate for young people as vital members of the community and potential members of the larger world community.
About the PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is a tax-exempt membership organization of professional golfers. Its primary purpose is to provide competitive earnings opportunities for past, current and future members of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour; to protect the integrity of the game; and to help grow the reach of the game in the U.S. and around the world.
In 2008, the three Tours will compete in 108 events for approximately $355 million in prize money. Tournaments will be held in nine countries outside the U.S. and in 37 states.
In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, TOUR events also generate significant funds for local charities. In fact, the three Tours have surpassed the $1 billion mark in overall charitable contributions. The PGA TOUR's web site address is www.pgatour.com and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.